Not My God

I was born into a Hindu family and just about everyone in the family is at least reasonably, moderately religious. Some – including my wife – are deeply religious. As is common in many Hindu households, we have a small temple in one corner of our apartment, where a small selection of Gods and Goddesses are ensconced – comfortably, I hope – and my wife and parents pay their respects there every day, in the morning, for a few minutes. My wife, a devout Hindu, also goes to a neighbourhood temple every day, in the evening, for a second round of prayers. No harm in receiving a double dose of Godly blessings, I suppose, and she says the 20-minute walk does her some good anyway, which must be true.

Regardless of which religion they follow, I have no problem with the devout. Well, except for the indiscriminate use of loudspeakers, which I wrote about earlier. When it comes to religion, there can’t be one single path that everyone must follow. Godliness can’t be one-size-fits-all. For those who regularly go to temples, mosques, churches and other places of worship – if it makes them feel good, if it works for them, that’s just great. For those who regularly spend a few minutes – or even an hour or two, as the case may be – every day to pray or meditate, if it brings peace to their minds and happiness to their hearts, that’s just awesome.